Torrington mourns loss of retired English teacher Victor Voss

Voss, who was 68, had worked at Torrington High School since 1968. Despite retiring in 2007 after a 38-year career at the school, Voss was an everpresent figure at the school after his retirement, working as a tutor until 2011. Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Kloczko said Voss's death was "a great loss for us" in a phone interview.

"He's an excellent teacher and he served Torrington schools very well," Kloczko said.

Kloczko said Voss -- who battled health problems throughout much of his life -- was one of the more innovative teachers to work at Torrington High School, developing such programs as a learning center for literacy "long before it was the popular thing to do." Voss himself was popular with students and staff, as evidenced by his page on Rate My Teacher and the outpouring of support from former students following his passing.

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"He had a great relationship with the students he worked with," said Kloczko.

No concrete details regarding services were available, although Voss's family anticipates holding a service at the First Congregational Church in Litchfield at 10 a.m. on Nov. 15. However, a Facebook page was established Sunday night in Voss's memory. People began posting their memories of Voss shortly after the page's creation, thanking him for his contributions to their lives.

"Your class was the first time I ever felt like I was good at something," wrote Amy Livingston, one of Voss's former students, on the memorial Facebook page. "Your kindness to me when I was new to THS 1/2 through junior year was amazing. You will be sorely missed, but you are now among the angels."

Voss is survived by his daughter Jennifer and six grandchildren. According to his daughter, the family will establish a fund at Litchfield Bancorp on Nov. 13, and Voss's family is asking for donations to the fund in lieu of flowers. Voss's memorial Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/InLovingMemoryOfMrVictorVoss.